Image forming system

ABSTRACT

An image forming system includes a PDL job receiving unit for receiving a PDL job generated by use of a page description language, a print image forming unit for interpreting the PDL job and forming a print image, a compression unit for compressing the print image, a storage unit for storing the compressed image formed by the compression unit, a hybrid print demand receiving unit for receiving a hybrid print demand that demands the compressed image in the storage unit to be hybrid-printed, an expansion unit for expanding the compressed image, and a transmitting unit for transmitting the expanded image formed by the expansion unit to a printer engine. The image forming system further includes a control unit for, when judging that the PDL job receiving unit receives the PDL job, forming the print image from the PDL job, compressing the print image and storing the compressed image in the storage unit, and when judging that the hybrid print demand receiving unit receives the hybrid print demand, expanding the compressed image in the storage unit by use of the expansion unit in response to the hybrid print demand, and sending the expanded image to the printer engine.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation based upon U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/388,755 filed Mar. 17, 2003; the entire contents of all ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image forming system for forming animage by use of PDL (Page Description Language) data received from ahost computer, etc.

There has hitherto been an image forming system for printing on aprint-job basis. A print job is defined as a data set extending over aplurality of pages in a case where, for instance, a certain user printsdocument data extending over the plurality of pages by utilizing anapplication software in the host computer.

In this image forming system, printing is performed in the followingway. To be specific, at first, the host computer, etc. generates a PDL(Page Description Language) job (containing, for example, PDL page datafor a plurality of pages) and sends this PDL job to a printercontroller. The printer controller having received the PDL job convertseach set of PDL page data of the PDL job into raster data, and generatesa raster job by assembling pieces of raster data. The printer controllersequentially takes out the raster data of the raster job and sends theraster data to a printer. The printer having received the raster dataforms an image on a sheet by use of the raster data.

In the image forming system described above, a case of hybrid-printing aplurality of PDL jobs involved using a method of generating one PDL jobby editing the plurality of PDL jobs on the host computer.

Further, there was an alternative method of generating a raster job byrasterizing the PDL jobs received from the host computer, storing thisraster job in a storage unit on the printer controller, then generatingraster data by rasterizing image data received from a scanner, a FAX,etc., and storing the same raster data in the storage unit describedabove. According to this method, when the printer controller receives ahybrid print demand from the host computer, one raster job is generatedby editing the raster job/raster data in the storage unit describedabove (such as hybridizing the raster job/raster data on, e.g., apage-by-page basis).

There were, however, problems inherent in the conventional hybridprinting methods including the methods given above.

Namely, there arose a problem that a capacity of the storage unitbecomes deficient in the case of hybrid-printing, for instance, a largequantity of raster jobs. That is, when storing the large quantity ofraster jobs, etc. in the storage unit in order to hybrid-print theraster jobs, the storage area (capacity) comes to a deficiency, andhence it happened that all the raster jobs were unable to be accumulatedin the storage unit.

There was another problem, wherein it is difficult in reality that theimage data from the scanner or the facsimile (FAX) are utilized forapplications other than printing. Namely, the image data from thescanner or the FAX are, as explained above, stored in the state of beingconverted into the raster data in the printer controller. Generally, theraster data are not, however, generated in a format suited to the hostcomputer, etc. It is therefore difficult to utilize the image data fromthe scanner or the FAX to the applications other than printing.

Further, there was a problem in which an image quality declines in thecase of hybrid-printing the respective raster jobs with their sheetoutput directions (printing directions) different from each other.Namely, in the case of printing the respective raster jobs of which thesheet printing directions are different from each other (in the case ofusing, e.g., a staple function), it is required that the printingdirections of the raster jobs be unified in a vertical or lateraldirection. That is, if the printing direction of a certain raster job isset in the vertical direction while the printing direction of adifferent raster job is lateral, the printing directions of the tworaster jobs are required to be unified. To be more specific, it isrequired that, for instance, each set of page data (each set of rasterdata) held by the different raster job be converted into data rotatedthrough 90 degrees. The raster data have, however, already undergone agradation process (screening) taking the sheet output direction(printing direction) into consideration when rasterized from the PDLpage data. Hence, if the data conversion described above is executed, anoriginal gradation state can not be kept. Consequently, when printingthe post-converted raster data, the image quality declines. Accordingly,when the great majority of raster data to be hybrid-printed areconverted, it follows that a large decline of the image quality occurson the whole.

Moreover, in the case of hybrid-printing in a way that uses a pluralityof raster jobs for color printing, as a result of the hybrid-printing, acolor tone balance between the pages might be lost. Namely, there mightdiffer color-related settings (e.g., a sharpness setting, a photo/textmode setting, etc.) for the respective raster jobs, and an environment(for instance, a setting of the application) on the host computer whichhas generated the PDL jobs corresponding to the respective raster jobs.In such a case, as a result of printing, there occurs a scatter in thecolor tones of the respective pages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an imageforming system capable of avoiding a variety of inconveniences inherentin the hybrid-printing as described above.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an imageforming device capable of executing the hybrid-printing in a way thatutilizes a small storage area.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an imageforming system capable of utilizing image data from a peripheral devicesuch as a scanner, a FAX, etc. to applications other than printing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an imageforming system capable of reducing deterioration of an image quality tothe greatest possible degree in the case of hybrid-printing jobs withtheir sheet output directions different from each other.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide animage forming system capable of equalizing display states of therespective printed pages even in the case of hybrid-printing the jobswith different color-display-related settings, and so on.

In order to accomplish the first object of the present invention, thereis provided an image forming system comprising: a PDL job receiving unitfor receiving a PDL job generated by use of a page description language;a print image forming unit for interpreting the PDL job and forming aprint image; a compression unit for compressing the print image; astorage unit for storing the compressed image formed by said compressionunit; a hybrid print demand receiving unit for receiving a hybrid printdemand that demands the compressed image in said storage unit to behybrid-printed; an expansion unit for expanding the compressed image;and a transmitting unit for transmitting the expanded image formed bysaid expansion unit to a printer engine, wherein said image formingsystem further comprises a control unit for, when judging that said PDLjob receiving unit receives the PDL job, forming the print image fromthe PDL job by use of said print image forming unit, compressing theprint image by use of said compression unit and storing the compressedimage in said storage unit, and when judging that said hybrid printdemand receiving unit receives the hybrid print demand, expanding thecompressed image in said storage unit by use of said expansion unit inresponse to the hybrid print demand, and sending the expanded image tosaid printer engine.

In order to accomplish the second object of the present invention, thereis provided an image forming system comprising: a PDL job receiving unitfor receiving a PDL job generated by use of a page description language;a first print image forming unit for forming a first print image byinterpreting the PDL job; a PDL-unsupported image receiving unit forreceiving from a peripheral device a PDL-unsupported image having animage format that is not interpreted by the page description language; astorage unit for storing the first print image and the PDL-unsupportedimage; a hybrid print demand receiving unit for receiving a hybrid printdemand for demanding a hybrid print of the first print image and thePDL-unsupported image in said storage unit; a second print image formingunit for converting the PDL-unsupported image into a PDL-supported imagehaving an image format interpretable by the page description language,rewriting the PDL-supported image into PDL data using the pagedescription language and forming a second print image by interpretingthe PDL data; and a transmitting unit for transmitting the first andsecond print images to a printer engine, wherein said image formingsystem further comprises a control unit for, when judging that said PDLjob receiving unit receives the PDL job, forming the first print imagefrom the PDL job by use of said first print image forming unit, storingthe first print image in said storage unit, when judging that saidPDL-unsupported image receiving unit receives the PDL-unsupported image,storing the PDL-unsupported image in said storage unit, and when judgingthat said hybrid print demand receiving unit receives the hybrid printdemand, forming the second print image from the PDL-unsupported image insaid storage unit by use of said second print image forming unit, andsending the first and second print images in the sequence based on thehybrid print demand to said printer engine.

In order to accomplish the third object, there is provided an imageforming system comprising: a PDL job receiving unit for receiving a PDLjob generated by use of a page description language and having printdirection information; a print image forming unit for forming a printimage by interpreting the PDL job; a storage unit for storing the printimages; a hybrid print demand receiving unit for receiving a hybridprint demand for demanding a hybrid print of a plurality of print imagesin said storage unit; print direction determining unit for unifyingprint directions of the plurality of print images into the same printdirection and thus determining the print direction; an image convertingunit for converting the print images into images having the same printdirection; and a transmitting unit for transmitting the print images andthe post-converted images formed by said image converting unit to aprinter engine, wherein said image forming system further comprises acontrol unit for, when judging that said PDL job receiving unit receivesthe PDL job, forming the print image from the PDL job by use of saidprint image forming unit, storing the print image in said storage unit,and when judging that said hybrid print demand receiving unit receivesthe hybrid print demand, making said print direction determining unitdetermine the same print direction by use of the plurality of printimages in said storage unit, converting the print images that are notcoincident with the same print direction among the plurality of printimages into images having the same print direction by use of said imageconverting unit, and sending the print images and the post-convertedimages to said printer engine in the sequence based on the hybrid printdemand.

In order to accomplish the fourth object, there is provided an imageforming system comprising: a PDL job receiving unit for receiving a PDLjob generated by use of a page description language and having a displaystate related description; a storage unit for storing the PDL job; ahybrid print demand receiving unit for receiving a hybrid print demandfor demanding a hybrid print of a plurality of PDL in said storage unit;a print image forming unit for unifying the respective display staterelated descriptions in the PDL jobs into the same description, andforming the respective print images by interpreting the respective PDLjobs with the unified display state related description; and atransmitting unit for transmitting the print images to a printer engine,wherein said image forming system further comprises a control unit for,when judging that said PDL job receiving unit receives the PDL job,storing the PDL jobs in said storage unit, and when judging that saidhybrid print demand receiving unit receives the hybrid print demand,forming a plurality of print images from the plurality of PDL jobs insaid storage unit by use of said second print image forming unit, andsending the plurality of print images in the sequence based on thehybrid print demand to said printer engine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an imageforming system in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an specific example of a hybrid process;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory flowchart showing a processing procedure by aCPU in the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing steps subsequent to those in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example in which a sheet outputdirection changing process is applied to a hybrid print;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of a sheet output directiondetermining routine;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the imageforming system in a third embodiment;

FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a state where compressed raster data arehybridized with JPEG data;

FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a file converting routine from the JPEGdata into raster data;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by the CPU in thethird embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing steps subsequent to those in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing steps subsequent to those in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a hybrid print procedure by the CPU in afourth embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an image data receiving procedure by theCPU in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an system configuration of the imageforming system in a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an image data receiving procedure by theCPU in the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing steps subsequent to those in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing details of a color resource settingroutine in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing contents of hybrid output information; and

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a structure of a PDL file (PDL job).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an imageforming system in a first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a host computer 1 generates a PDL job (containingPDL page data for a plurality of pages) by use of, e.g., a variety ofapplication software programs. Further, the host computer 1 generates ahybrid print demand containing a hybrid print instruction forinstructing the system to perform hybrid printing and hybrid outputinformation for specifying a hybrid print object. The host computer 1sends the PDL job and the hybrid print demand to a printer controller 3via a network 2 such as a LAN (Local Area Network), etc.

The printer controller 3 rasterizes and compresses each set of PDL pagedata of the PDL job received from the host computer 1, and stores eachset of compressed raster data as a compressed job. Then, the printercontroller 3 generates a hybrid job by use of a single or a plurality ofcompressed jobs in response to the hybrid print demand given from thehost computer 1 (a hybrid job process).

FIG. 2 shows a specific example of the hybrid job process. In thisexample, pages 1, 2 (compressed raster data 1, 2) of a compressed job 2are inserted in between pages 3, 4 of a compressed job 1 (compresseddata 1 through 4), thus generating one hybrid job. In this example, apage 3 (compressed raster data 3) of the compressed job 2 is deleted.

The print controller, which has generated the hybrid job by the hybridjob process described above, sequentially expands the respective sets ofcompressed raster data in the hybrid job and sends the thus expandeddata to a printer engine 4.

The printer controller 3 will hereinafter be described in greaterdetail.

The printer controller 3 is connected to the external host computer 1via an external I/F (Interface) 5. Further, the printer controller 3 isconnected to the printer engine 4 via a printer I/F 6. Moreover, theprinter controller 3 includes a CPU 8 for executing a variety ofprocesses, a RAM 9 serving as a main storage device, an HDD 10 as anauxiliary storage device, an image compression device 11 for compressingthe raster data, and an image expansion device 12 for expanding thecompressed raster data. The various categories of hardware resourcessuch as the external I/F 5, the printer I/F 6, the CPU 8, the RAM 9, theHDD 10, the image compression device 11 and the image expansion device12, are connected to a bus 13 for internal communications and arethereby communicable with each other. The following is more detailedexplanations of the CPU 8, the RAM 9, the HDD 10, the image compressiondevice 11 and the image expansion device 12.

The CPU 8 executes a variety of processes by use of an image formingprogram and a print control program stored in a program area 10 b on theHDD 10. The image forming program actualizes a function of converting,into the raster data, each set of PDL page data of the PDL job receivedfrom the host computer 1. On the other hand, the print control programactualizes a function of controlling the present image forming system asa whole. The image forming program described above is invoked and is rununder this print control program.

The HDD 10 contains a spool area 10 a stored with the data of thecompressed jobs, etc. The HDD 10 further contains a program area 10 bstored with the print control program and the image forming programdescribed above. In addition, the HDD 10 contains a work area 10 cserving as a buffer area for work. For example, the work area 10 c isused for buffering (temporarily storing) the PDL job received from thehost computer 1 and buffering the hybrid job which will be explainedlater on.

The RAM 9 includes a page-oriented image memory 9 a used as a work areawhen converting each set of PDL page data of the PDL job into the rasterdata. The RAM 9 further includes a work memory 9 b into which a varietyof programs are loaded from the program area 10 b on the HDD 10. Forinstance, the CPU 8 loads the image forming program into the work memory9 and executes this program, thereby converting each set of PDL pagedata of the PDL job into the raster data. In addition, the work memory 9b is utilized as a buffer area for work.

The image compression device 11 captures and compresses each set ofraster data developed on the page-oriented image memory 9 a. Therespective compressed sets of raster data (the compressed raster data)are assembled into one compressed job and are thereafter stored, in astate of being attached with attribute information that will hereinafterbe described, in the spool area 10 a.

The image expansion device 12 sequentially expands the respective setsof compressed raster data of the compressed job stored in the spool area10 a, thereby restoring them into the respective sets raster data. Therestored raster data are sent to the printer engine 4 via the printerI/F 6.

The printer controller 3 explained so far is provided, together with theprinter engine 4 that will be described later on, in a body of thesystem. As a matter of course, the printer controller 3 may, however, beprovided as an external controller 3 outside the system body.

The printer engine 4 receives the raster data from the printer I/F 6 andforms a visible image on the sheet by use of the raster data. Theprinter engine 4 includes, for example, a sheet feeding unit forsupplying the sheets, a printing unit for forming a toner image on thesheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit by use of the raster data, afixing unit for fixing the toner image formed on the sheet onto thissheet by heating and pressurizing it.

Next, a processing procedure by the CPU 8 using the print controlprogram described above will be explained.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure executedby the CPU 8.

This processing procedure consists of a PDL job receiving routine A1(see FIG. 3), a hybrid printing routine A2 (see FIG. 4) and a spool dataattribution information sending routing A3 (see FIG. 4). The CPU 8periodically loads the print control program stored in the program area10 b described above into the work memory 9 b on the print controller 3and executes this program. The CPU 8 executes, however, any one of theroutines A1 through A3 at every run-time of the print control program.For example, if the CPU 8 judges “Yes” in step S1 in FIG. 3, i.e., whenan execution of the routine A1 is started, the CPU 8 judges “No” in bothof steps S8 and S12 in FIG. 4, and therefore neither the routine A2 northe routine A3 is executed.

This processing procedure will be explained in depth with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4.

To start with, the PDL job receiving routine A1 will be describedreferring to FIG. 3. This PDL job receiving routine A1 is a routineexecuted when the printer controller 3 receives the PDL job from thehost computer 1. The following is a more detailed discussion.

At first, as shown in step S1 in FIG. 3, the CPU 8 judges whether theexternal I/F 5 receives the PDL job (containing the PDL page data for aplurality of pages) from the host computer 1.

The CPU 8, when judging that the external I/F 5 does not receive the PDLjob (No in step S1), terminates this routine. Whereas if the CPU 8judges that the external I/F 5 receives the PDL job (Yes in step S1),buffers the PDL job in the work area 10 c on the HDD 10 (step S2). Then,the CPU 8 judges whether a hybrid print discrimination flag contained inthe PDL job is set up or not (step S2). This hybrid print discriminationflag represents whether the PDL job concerned is a hybrid print targetor not, and is generated by a printer driver in the host computer whengenerating the PDL job.

The CPU 8, when judging that the hybrid print discrimination flag in thePDL job is set up (Yes in step S2), loads the image forming programstored in the program area 10 b on the HDD 10 into the work memory 9 bon the RAM 9 (step S3). Then, the CPU 8 converts each set of PDL pagedata of the PDL job into the raster data by use of the loaded imageforming program (step S3).

The CPU 8, upon generating the raster data, compresses each set ofraster data with the aid of the image compression device 11, therebygenerating the compressed raster data (step S4).

The CPU 8, which has thus generated the compressed raster data,assembles the respective sets of compressed raster data into onecompressed job, then attaches pieces of attribute information such asjob identifying information, a page count, etc. to this compressed job,and thus stores the compressed job containing the attribute informationin the spool area 10 a (step S5). It is herein assumed that thecompressed jobs 1 and 2 shown in FIG. 2 be stored in the spool area 10a. Thereafter, the PDL job in the work area 10 c is deleted (step S5).

Whereas if the CPU 8 judges that the hybrid print discrimination flag inthe PDL job is not set up (No in step S2), the CPU 8 converts the PDLpage data of the PDL job into the raster data by use of the imageforming program (step S6).

The CPU 8, upon generating the raster data, sends the raster data to theprinter engine 4 via the printer I/F 6 (step S7). Thereafter, theprinter engine 4 executes a printing process by utilizing the rasterdata (step S7).

Next, the Hybrid Printing Routine A2 Will be discussed referring to FIG.4.

This hybrid printing routine A2 is a routine for executing a hybridprinting process when the printer controller 3 receives a hybrid printinstruction and a piece of hybrid output information (a hybrid printdemand) from the host computer 1. The following is a description in muchgreater detail.

To being with, the CPU 8 judges whether or not the external I/F 5receives the hybrid print instruction and the hybrid output informationfrom the host computer 1 (step S8). The hybrid output informationcontains descriptions (information) of, e.g., a compressed job name of ahybridizing target job, a hybridizing method, etc. The information (suchas the compressed job name and a page count of this job) about thehybridizing target compressed job, is obtained by the host computer 1 inthe routing A3 as will be explained later on.

The CPU 8, when judging that the external I/F 5 does not receive thehybrid print instruction and the hybrid output information (No in stepS8), terminates this routine. The CPU 8, whereas if judging that theexternal I/F 5 receives the hybrid print instruction and the hybridoutput information (it is herein assumed that the hybrid printinstruction that demands the hybrid process shown in FIG. 2 and thehybrid output process be received) (Yes in step S8), executes thefollowing process. To be specific, at first, the compressed jobs 1, 2 inFIG. 2 are hybridized based on the hybrid output information, therebygenerating a hybrid job (see FIG. 2) (step S9). Then, the CPU 8 expandsa head page (a page 1 of the compressed job 1) of the hybrid job by useof the image expansion device 12 (step S10), and sends the expanded datato the printer engine 4 (step S11). The pages (a page 2 of thecompressed job 1, pages 1, 2 of the compressed job 2 and a page 4 of thecompressed job 1) from the next onwards are similarly expanded insequence and sent to the printer engine 4 (steps S9, S10, S11). Notethat the page 3 of the compressed job 2 is not, as shown in FIG. 2, setas a hybrid print target. After the above steps (S9, S10, S11) have beenexecuted for all the pages of the hybrid job (Yes in step S9), the CPU 8terminates this routing A2.

Next, the spool data attribute information sending routing A3 will bediscussed with reference to FIG. 4.

This spool data attribute information sending routine A3 is a routinefor sending, when the printer controller 3 receives a spool datainformation sending demand from the host computer 1, pieces of attributedata (such as, a compressed job name, a page count, etc.) of eachcompressed job which are stored in the spool area 10 a. A detailedexplanation thereof will be give as follows.

To start with, the CPU 8 judges whether or not the spool datainformation sending demand is received from the host computer 1 (stepS12).

The CPU 8, when judging that the spool data information sending demandis not received (No in step S12), terminates this routine A3. The CPU 8,whereas if judging that the spool data information sending demand isreceived (Yes in step S12), sends the attribute data of the respectivecompressed jobs that are stored in the spool area 10 a to the hostcomputer 1 defined as a demand originator (step S13).

As discussed above, according to the first embodiment, the raster datahaving a large data size are compressed and thus stored, and hence evena small-capacity storage device is capable of storing a larger number ofjobs. It is therefore possible to easily actualize the hybrid printtargeting a multiplicity of jobs.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment is actualized by adding, to the hybrid printingprocess exemplified in the first embodiment, a process of automaticallydetermining a sheet output direction, i.e., a sheeting printingdirection.

Given first is an explanation of a concept of this process ofautomatically determining the sheet output direction (sheet outputdirection auto-determining process).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the hybrid printing processusing the sheet output direction auto-determining process.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this hybrid printing, the pages 1 through 4 (thecompressed raster data 1 through 4) of the compressed job and the pages1, 2 (the compressed raster data 1, 2) of the compressed job 2 arehybrid-printed. Herein, an output direction of the compressed job 1 is avertical direction (a long-edge direction), while an output direction ofthe compressed job 2 is a lateral direction (a short-edge direction).Accordingly, when executing the hybrid printing process, it is requiredthat the output directions be unified in any one of the vertical andlateral directions. This is because the sheet output directions needunifying in the case of executing, e.g., a staple process, etc. Asexplained, however, the change in the sheet output direction causes adecline of an image quality of the sheet with its output directionchanged. The reason for this is that the raster data, i.e., each set ofcompressed raster data of the compressed job undergo a gradation processtaking the sheet output direction into consideration. Such being thecase, according to the second embodiment, the number of sheets of whichthe output direction should be rotated is decreased on the whole bysetting a job having a smaller print page count as an output directionrotating target to the greatest possible degree, thereby reducing thedecline of the image quality. To be specific, as shown in FIG. 5, theoutput direction (the lateral direction) of the sheets of the compressedjob 2 defined as a job having the smaller print page count is rotatedthrough 90 degrees, thus setting the output direction vertical. Then,the compressed job 2 set in the vertical direction is hybridized withthe compressed job 1, thereby generating a hybrid job.

Next, a processing procedure built up by adding the sheet outputdirection determining process to the processing procedure used in thefirst embodiment, will be discussed.

A flowchart in this built-up processing procedure is substantially thesame as the flowchart (FIGS. 3 and 4) used in the first embodiment withthe exception that a sheet output direction determining routine is addedjust posterior to the hybrid print demand step S8 in the hybrid printingroutine A2 in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 shows detailed steps of the sheet outputdirection determining routine added afresh.

This routine schemes to gain a total of a page count of the long-edgeoutput pages (vertical output pages) and a page count of short-edgeoutput pages (lateral output pages) by use of each of the compressedjobs (see FIG. 5) to be hybridized. Then, the direction exhibiting alarger page count is determined as the output direction. A much greaterdiscussion will be made as follows.

To start with, the CPU 8 (see FIG. 1), when judging that the externalI/F 5 receives the hybrid print instruction and the hybrid outputinformation from the host computer 1 (see step S8 in FIG. 4), totals thelong-edge output page count by use of each of the compressed jobs ofwhich the pages are hybrid-printed (step S41). In the example shown inFIG. 5, the compressed job 1 is set to the long-edge output (verticaldirection output), and hence the total page count is 4.

Next, the CPU 8 totals the short-edge output page count in the same wayas above (step S42). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the compressed job2 is set to the short-edge output (the lateral direction output), andtherefore the total page count is 2 (the page 3 is, as explained above,not the hybrid print target page).

Next, the CPU 8 compares the page count of the long-edge output pageswith the page count of the short-edge output pages, which are calculatedin steps S41 and S42 (step S43).

The CPU 8, when judging that the page count of the long-edge outputpages is equal to or larger than the page count of the short-edge outputpages (Yes in step S43), determines that the sheet output direction isthe long-edge output direction, and generates a hybrid job that unifiesthe sheet output directions into the long-edge output direction. Thisstep is applied to the example shown in FIG. 5, wherein the outputdirection of the compressed job 2 is changed to the long-edge output,and a hybrid job that unifies the sheet output directions into thelong-edge output direction is generated by use of this compressed job 2and the compressed job 1.

On the other hand, the CPU 8, when judging that the page count of thelong-edge output pages is smaller than the page count of the short-edgeoutput pages (No in step S43), determines that the sheet outputdirection is the short-edge output direction, and generates a hybrid jobthat unifies the sheet output directions into the short-edge outputdirection (step S45).

After thus generating the hybrid job that unifies the sheet outputdirections, as in the first embodiment, the CPU executes subsequent stepS9 (see FIG. 4).

As discussed above, according to the second embodiment, on the occasionof hybridizing the plurality of compressed jobs, the page count of thelong-edge output pages and the page count of the short-edge output pagesare counted, and the output direction of the pages exhibiting the largerpage count is determined as the sheet output direction, whereby the pagecount of the pages with the output direction to be changed can bedecreased. Hence, the decline of the image quality due to change in theoutput direction can be reduced to the greatest possible degree.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment schemes to execute hybrid-printing the PDL job givenfrom the host computer 1 and image data given from a scanner and a FAX.Rasterization of the image data given from the scanner and the FAX ischaracterized such that the rasterization is done at the hybrid-printingtime. The third embodiment will hereinafter be described in depth.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the imageforming system in the third embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a scanner 15 and a FAX 16 are connected to animage I/F 14 and the image I/F 14 is connected to a bus 13 in theprinter controller 3. The program area 10 b on the HDD 10 is stored witha print control program for actualizing the third embodiment that willbe explained later on. On the other hand, the spool area 10 a is storedwith image data received by the image I/F 14 from the scanner 15 and theFAX 16. These pieces of image data are based on, e.g., a JPEG (JointPhotographic Experts Group) format. As a matter of course, the imagedata format may be other types of image formats if supported by PDL(Page Description Language). The image data are stored in an as-is state(e.g., the JPEG-formatted state) up to before the hybrid printingprocess and are, as will be described later on, PDL-formatted andrasterized when executing the hybrid printing process. Hence, the hostcomputer 1 can obtain and use the image data in the spool area 10 a upto before the hybrid printing process (and even after this process ifnot deleted when executing the hybrid printing process).

FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an example of a process of hybridizing thecompressed job with JPEG data.

As shown in FIG. 8A, a compressed job (pages 1 through 4) is hybridizedwith image data (JPEG data) given from the scanner 15, therebygenerating a hybrid job. The thus generated hybrid job is stored in thework area 10 c. The respective pages of this hybrid job are, as in thefirst embodiment, expanded sequentially from the head page back into theraster data and thus sent to the printer engine 4. The fourth JPEG datafrom the head is converted into the raster data as illustrated in FIG.8B showing a data conversion step into the raster data from the JPEGdata. To be specific, as shown in FIG. 8B, the JPEG data is converted atfirst into PDL page data, and thereafter the PDL page data israsterized.

Next, a processing procedure by the CPU 8 using the print controlprogram in the third embodiment will be explained.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are flowcharts showing this processing procedure.

Steps of this processing procedure are categorized into a PDL jobreceiving routine C1 (see FIG. 9), a hybrid printing routine C2 (seeFIG. 10), an image data receiving routine C3 (see FIG. 11) and a spooldata attribute information sending routine C4 (see FIG. 11). Differentpoints of this processing procedure from the processing procedure in thefirst embodiment are a difference of a part of the contents of thehybrid printing routine C and a new addition of the image data receivingroutine C3. The hybrid printing routine C2 and the image data receivingroutine C3 will hereinafter be described in detail.

The discussion starts with explaining the image data receiving routineC3 with reference to FIG. 11 and subsequently deals with the hybridprinting routine C2 with reference to FIG. 10.

The image data receiving routine C3 shown in FIG. 11 is a routine for,when an image I/F 14 receives the image data from the scanner 15 or theFAX, storing the same received image data in the spool area 10 a, and soon. The following is a description in greater detail.

At first, as shown in step S65 in FIG. 11, the CPU 8 judges whether theimage I/F 14 receives the image data from the scanner 15 or the FAX 16(step S65).

The CPU 8, when judging that the image I/F 14 does not receive the imagedata (No in step S65), terminates this routine C3.

While on the other hand, the CPU 8, when judging that the image I/F 14receives the image data (Yes in step S65), confirms a spooling mode setin the image I/F 14 (step S66). This spooling mode is a mode fordetermining whether the inputted image data should be stored or not, andis set by an instruction given to the image I/F 14 from a control panelof the scanner 15 or the FAX 16.

The CPU 8, when judging that the spooling mode set in the image I/F 14is “store” (Yes in step S66), stores the spooling area 10 a with theimage data received by the image I/F 14 (step S67).

The CPU 8, whereas if judging that the spooling mode set in the imageI/F 14 is “non-store” (No in step S66), executes steps that follow.Namely, at first, the CPU 8 removes a header and a footer attached tothe image data, and subsequently adds a PDL description, therebygenerating PDL page data (step S68). The CPU 8 having generated the PDLpage data converts the PDL page data into the raster data on the basisof the image forming program stored in the program area 10 b (step S69)and sends the raster data to the printer engine 4 (step S70).

Next, the hybrid printing routine C2 will be explained referring to FIG.10.

This hybrid printing routine C2 is a routine for performing the hybridprint by use of the image data and the compressed jobs in the spool area10 a (see FIG. 7) when the external I/F 5 receives the hybrid printdemand from the host computer 1. A more detailed explanation is given asfollows.

As shown in step S58 in FIG. 10, the CPU 8, when judging that the I/F 5has received the hybrid print demand from the host computer 1 (Yes instep S58), generates a hybrid job by use of the compressed jobs and theimage data (see a lower part in FIG. 8A) (step S59).

The CPU 8 having generated the hybrid job judges whether the head pageof the hybrid job is categorized as the compressed raster data or theimage data (step S60).

The CPU 8, when judging that the head page of the hybrid job is theimage data (Yes in step S60), as in the case of the image data receivingroutine C3, removes the header and the footer from the image data andadds a PDL description afresh, thereby generating PDL page data (stepS61). The CPU 8 rasterizes the generated PDL page data on the basis ofthe image forming program in the program area 10 b (step S63), and sendsthe rasterized data to the printer engine 4 (step S64).

While on the other hand, the CPU 8, when judging that the head page ofthe hybrid job is not the image data, i.e., judging that the head pageis the compressed raster data (No in step S60), expands the compressedraster data by using the image expansion device 11 (step S62), and sendsthe expanded data to the printer engine 4 (step S64).

The CPU 8, after executing the routine (steps S61 through S64) describedabove for all the pages of the hybrid job (Yes in step S59), terminatesthis routine C2.

As discussed above, according to the third embodiment, the image datafrom the scanner 15 or the FAX 16 are stored as they are without beingrasterized up to before the hybrid printing. Therefore, the image datafrom the scanner 15 or the FAX 16 are easily utilized for applicationsother than printing, e.g., in the host computer 1.

Fourth Embodiment

A scheme of a fourth embodiment is a hybrid print of the PDL job givenfrom the host computer 1 and of an image given from the scanner 15 orthe FAX16 and formed in a format that is not supported by PDL. Namely,according to the third embodiment, the hybrid print with the PDL job iscarried out by use of the image data (e.g., the JPEG data) supported byPDL. The fourth embodiment, however, schemes to perform the hybrid printwith the PDL job by using the image data that are not supported by PDL.

A processing procedure by the CPU 8 in the fourth embodiment issubstantially the same as the processing procedure (consisting of thePDL job receiving routine C1, the hybrid printing routine C2, the imagedata receiving routine C3 and the spool data attribute informationsending routine C4 (see FIGS. 9 through 11) in the third embodiment. Adifference of the fourth embodiment is an addition of an image formatconverting routine to each of the hybrid printing routine C2 and theimage data receiving routine C3 in the third embodiment. Such being thecase, the hybrid printing routine (a hybrid printing routine C2′) andthe image data receiving routine (an image data receiving routine C3′)will hereinafter be described.

The discussion starts with explaining the image data receiving routineC3′ with reference to FIG. 13 and thereafter deals with the hybridprinting routine C2′ with reference to FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the image data receiving routine C3′.

This image data receiving routine C3′ is a routine executed when theimage I/F 14 receives the image data that are not supported by PDL fromthe scanner 15 or the FAX16. The following is a more detaileddescription thereof.

As in the third embodiment, to start with, the CPU 8 judges whether ornot the image I/F 14 receives the image data from the scanner 15, etc.(step S91).

The CPU 8, when judging that the image I/F 14 does not receive the imagedata from the scanner 15, etc. (No in step S91), terminates this routineC3′.

While on the other hand, the CPU 8, when judging that the image I/F 14receives the image data from the scanner 15, etc. (Yes in step S91),confirms the spooling mode set in the image I/F 14.

The CPU 8, when judging that the spooling mode is set “non-store” (No instep S92), executes the following routine.

Namely, the CPU 8 judges whether the format of the same image data issupported by PDL or not (step S93).

The CPU 8, when judging that the image data format is not supported byPDL (No in step S93), converts the image data into a format (e.g., theJPEG format) supported by PDL (step S94). The steps subsequent theretoare the same as those in the image data receiving routine C3. To bespecific, the CPU 8 removes a header and a footer attached to the imagedata converted into the PDL-supported format, and adds a PDLdescription, thereby generating PDL page data (step S95). The CPU 8having generated the PDL page data converts the PDL page data into theraster data on the basis of the image forming program (step S96) andsends the raster data to the printer engine 4 (step S97).

The CPU 8, whereas if judging that the image data format is thePDL-supported format (Yes in step S93), generates the raster datawithout converting the image data format (steps S95, S96), and sends theraster data to the printer engine 4 (step S97).

On the other hand, the CPU 8, when judging in step S92 that the spoolingmode is set to “store” (Yes in step S92), stores the spool area 10 awith the image data given from the scanner 15, etc. (step S98).

Next, the hybrid printing routine C2′ will be explained referring toFIG. 12.

This hybrid printing routine C2′ is a routine for performing the hybridprint by use of the image data, etc. that are not supported by, forinstance, PDL.

At first, as in the third embodiment, the CPU 8 judges whether or notthe external I/F 5 receives the hybrid print demand from the hostcomputer 1 (step S81).

The CPU 8, when judging that the external I/F 5 does not receive thehybrid print demand (No in step S81), terminates this routine C2′.

While on the other hand, the CPU 8, when judging that the I/F 5 hasreceived the hybrid print (Yes in step S81), generates a hybrid job byuse of the compressed jobs and the image data in the spool area 10a(step S82) (see FIG. 8A).

Next, The CPU 8 judges whether the head page of the hybrid job iscategorized as the image data or not (step S83).

The CPU 8, when judging that the head page of the hybrid job is not theimage data but the compressed raster data (No in step s83), as in thethird embodiment, expands the compressed raster data (step S89) andsends the expanded data to the printer engine 4 (step S88).

By contrast, the CPU 8, when judging that the head page of the hybridjob is the image data (Yes in step S83), executes the following routine.

Namely, the CPU 8 at first judges whether the image data format issupported by PDL or not (step S84).

The CPU 8, when judging that the image data format is not supported byPDL (No in step S84), converts the image data into a format (e.g., theJPEG format) supported by PDL (step S85). Thereafter, as in the thirdembodiment, the CPU 8 adds a PDL description to the image data afterbeing converted and rasterizes the data and sends the raster data to theprinter engine 4 (steps S86 through S88).

The CPU 8, whereas if judging that the image data format is thePDL-supported format (Yes in step S84), adds the PDL description withoutconverting the image data (step s86), then rasterizes the data (stepS87) and sends the raster data to the printer engine 4 (step S88).

The CPU 8, after executing the routine (steps S82 through S88) describedabove for all the pages of the hybrid job (Yes in step S82), terminatesthis routine C2′.

As discussed above, according to the fourth embodiment, the image datainputted from the scanner 15 or the FAX 16 are, even if not supported byPDL, converted into the PDL-supported image data when executing thehybrid printing, and hence even the PDL-unsupported image data can beset as the hybrid printing target data.

Fifth Embodiment

A fifth embodiment schemes to uniformize color tones of the imagesprinted on the respective sheets by unifying color resources-relatedsettings (such as a sharpness setting, a photo/text mode, etc.)described in the respective PDL jobs that are hybrid-printed.

The fifth embodiment will hereinafter be discussed in depth.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the imageforming system in the fifth embodiment.

Unlike the image forming system exemplified in the first embodiment (seeFIG. 1), this image forming system is provided with neither the imagecompression device nor the image expansion device. This is because theraster data are neither compressed nor expanded in the fifth embodiment.

The spool area 10 a on the HDD 10 is stored with the PDL jobs receivedfrom the host computer 1. On the other hand, the program area 10 b isstored with the print control program in the fifth embodiment that willbe explained later on. Other configurations are the same as those in thefirst embodiment, and hence their detailed explanations are omitted.

Next, a processing procedure by the CPU 8 using the print controlprogram in the fifth embodiment, will be described.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are flowcharts showing this processing procedure.

This processing procedure consists of a PDL job receiving routine D1(see FIG. 15), a hybrid printing routine D2 (see FIG. 16) and a spooldata attribute information sending routine D3 (see FIG. 16). The spooldata attribute information sending routine D3 is the same as the spooldata attribute information sending routine A2 (see FIG. 4). Such beingthe case, the following discussion will be focused on the PDL jobreceiving routine D1 and the hybrid printing routine D2.

The discussion starts with explaining the PDL job receiving routine D1with reference to FIG. 15.

This PDL job receiving routine D1 is a routine for storing the PDL jobsreceived by the external I/F 5 from the host computer 1 in, e.g., thespool area 10 a in an as-is state. To be specific, according to thefirst embodiment, the PDL jobs are rasterized and compressed and thusstored. In this routine D1, however, the PDL jobs are stored as theyare. The following is a description in greater detail.

To begin with, as in the first embodiment, the CPU 8 judges whether ornot the external I/F 5 receives the PDL job from the host computer 1(step S101).

The CPU 8, when judging that the external I/F 5 does not receive the PDLjob (No in step S101), terminates this routine D1.

While on the other hand, the CPU 8, when judging the external I/F 5receives the PDL job (Yes in step S101), judges whether a hybrid flag inthe PDL job is set up or not (step S102).

The CPU 8, when judging that the hybrid flag in the PDL job is set up(Yes in step S102), stores the PDL job in the spool area 10 a.

On the other hand, the CPU 8, when judging that the hybrid flag in thePDL job is not set up (No in step S102), as in the first embodiment,rasterizes each set of PDL page data of the PDL job (step S104), andsends the raster data to the printer engine 4 (step S105).

Next, the hybrid printing routine D2 will be explained with reference toFIG. 16.

This hybrid printing routine D2 is a routine for performing the hybridprinting by use of the PDL jobs stored in the spool area 10 a. Thehybrid printing routine D2 is, on this occasion, characterized such thatthe color resource settings in the respective PDL jobs are unified, andonly the PDL page data requiring an execution of the actual printingamong the sets of PDL page data of the respective PDL jobs arerasterized. A more detailed explanation is given as follows.

To start with, as in the first embodiment, the CPU 8 judges whether theexternal I/F 5 receives a hybrid print demand (a hybrid printinstruction and hybrid output information) (step S111).

The CPU 8, when judging that the external I/F 5 does not receive thehybrid print demand (the hybrid print instruction and the hybrid outputinformation) (No in step S111), terminates this routine D2.

On the other hand, the CPU 8, when judging that the external I/F 5receives the hybrid print demand (the hybrid print instruction and thehybrid output information) (Yes in step S111), hybrid-prints therespective PDL jobs in the spool area 10 a in accordance with the hybridoutput information (steps S112 through S116). The following is anexplanation in greater detail.

To begin with, FIG. 18 showing a table of contents of the hybrid outputinformation described above, is referred to.

This table shows a PDL file name (a PDL job name) and print pages ofeach PDL file. Specifically, it is shown that pages 5-8 of a PDL file1234.ps and pages 1-2 of a PDL file 5678.ps are printed in thissequence.

Next, FIG. 19 is referred to. FIG. 19 shows an outline of a filestructure of the PDL file 1234.ps in FIG. 18.

As shown in FIG. 19, this PDL file 1234.ps has a page delimiter token“showpage” stored at every page delimiter. In head page, “show” is anoperator representing an instruction of printing a character string,etc., and, for example, “(ABC) show” indicates printing a characterstring “ABC”.

Steps (steps S112 through S116) subsequent to the hybrid printingroutine D2 described above will be explained referring to FIGS. 18 and19.

The CPU 8, when judging in step S111 that the hybrid print demand (thehybrid print instruction and the hybrid output information), specifies apage 5 as a first print page by use of the PDL file “1234.ps” on thebasis of the hybrid output information (see FIG. 18) (steps S112, S113).To be more specific, the CPU 8 detects the page 5 by counting the pagedelimiter tokens in the PDL file “1234.ps” ([1] in FIG. 19).

The CPU 8 having detected the page 5 changes the color resource-relatedsettings (such as the sharpness setting, the photo/text mode setting,etc.) in the page 5 to setting contents prepared mapping to a categoryof the PDL language (step S114: [2] in FIG. 19). This change is madespecifically as follows.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing steps of changing the color resourcesettings.

As shown in FIG. 17, the CPU 8 judges which category the PDL language inthe page 5 comes under (step S121). The CPU 8, when judging that the PDLlanguage in the page 5 is categorized as a PS (Post Script) language (PSin step S121), replaces a description of the color resource in the page5 with a predetermined PS language-based color resource description(step S122). The example shown in [2] in FIG. 19 corresponds to thiscase. Note that “sethalftone” in FIG. 19 is an operator for designatinga table utilized for a gradation process when rasterizing the PDL pagedata. An operator “setcolorrendering” serves to designate a colorexpression, e.g., sharpness, etc. An operator “settransfer” serves todesignate a table utilized for a gamma correction. On the other hand,the CPU 8, when judging that the PDL language in the page 5 is PCL(Printer Command Language) (registered trademark) (PCL in step S121),replaces the color resource description in the page 5 with apredetermined PCL-based color resource description (step S123). Notethat PS is a language developed by Adobe Systems Incorporated, and PCLis a language developed by Hewlett-Packard Company.

The CPU 8 having changed the color resource description in the page 5(step S114 in FIG. 16) rasterizes the page 5 on the basis of the imageforming program (step S115), and sends the rasterized page 5 to theprinter engine 4 (step S116).

The CPU 8, after executing steps S112 through S116 for remaining pages6-8 of the PDL file “1234.ps” and pages 1-2 of the PDL file “5678.ps”,terminates this routine D2.

As discussed above, according to the fifth embodiment, the colorresource-related settings described in the respective PDL jobs that arehybrid-printed are unified, thereby making it possible to uniformize therespective color tones of the images printed on the sheets.

Further, according to the fifth embodiment, the PDL job is utilized asthe hybrid printing target, and hence the spool area 10 a can be saved.Namely, in the first embodiment, the compressed job is used as thehybrid printing target, and therefore the compressed job having thelarger data size than the PDL job is stored in the spool area 10 a.According to the fifth embodiment, however, since the PDL job is set asthe hybrid printing target, and therefore the PDL job having the smallerdata size than the compressed job may be stored in the spool area 10 a.Accordingly, in the fifth embodiment, the spool area 10 a can beutilized more effectively.

Further, according to the fifth embodiment, only the PDL page datarequiring the actual printing among the respective sets of PDL page dataof the PDL job are rasterized, whereby the hardware resources can beutilized highly efficiently by omitting futile processes.

1. An image forming method comprising: unifying print directions of aplurality of print images each having print direction information intosame print direction, wherein said unifying includes totaling pagecounts on a print-direction basis by use of the plurality of printimages and taking the print direction exhibiting a larger total pagecount to determine the same print direction; converting the print imagesthat are not coincident with the same print direction among theplurality of print images into images having the same print direction;generating a hybrid job containing the print images that are coincidentwith the same print direction and the post-converted images; and sendingthe print images in the hybrid job to a printer engine.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: receiving a Page DescriptionLanguage job generated by use of a page description language and havingthe print direction information; forming a print image by interpretingthe Page Description Language job; compressing the print image andforming a compressed job including a compressed image; storing thecompressed jobs in a storage unit; and receiving a hybrid print demandthat includes: a hybrid print instruction, and hybrid print informationhaving a single or a plurality of compressed job name of a hybridizingtarget job and a hybridizing method.
 3. The method according to claim 2,wherein: the Page Description Language job has a hybrid flag indicatingwhether the Page Description Language job is a hybrid target job or not,if the Page Description Language job is received, it is judged based onthe hybrid flag whether the Page Description Language job is the hybridtarget job or not, and if the Page Description Language job is thehybrid target job, the print image is formed from the Page DescriptionLanguage job, the print image are compressed, and the compressed imageis stored in the storage unit.
 4. The method according to claim 2,further comprising: receiving an attribute information transmissiondemand for demanding a transmission of attribute information of thecompressed image stored in the storage unit from a user terminal,extracting the attribute information from the compressed image, andsending the extracted attribute information to the user terminal.
 5. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of print images arebased on different types of image data.
 6. The method according to claim5, wherein: the different types of image data includes an image datawith a format not supported by the Page Description Language and animage with a format supported by the Page Description Language, theimage data with the format supported by the Page Description Language isinterpreted to the print image, and the image data with the format notsupported by the Page Description Language is converted to image datawith the format supported by the Page Description Language and theninterpreted to the print image.
 7. The method according to claim 6,wherein the image data, with the format not supported by the PageDescription Language, is an image data obtained by a scanner.
 8. Themethod according to claim 6, wherein the image data, with the format notsupported by the Page Description Language, is a FAX received imagedata.
 9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising unifyingcolor resources-related settings of the plurality of print images. 10.The method according to claim 1, wherein the converting is performed byrotating the print images that are not coincident with the same printdirection.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein a rotationdegree is 90 degrees.
 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein: theplurality of print images are compressed print images, and the sendingincludes expanding the compressed print images in the hybrid job andsending expanded print images to the printer engine.
 13. An imageforming apparatus comprising: a print job receiving unit which receivesa print job having a print direction information; a storage unit whichstores a print image of the print job; a hybrid print demand receivingunit which receives a hybrid print demand for demanding a hybrid printof a plurality of print images in said storage unit; a controller unitwhich performs: unifying print directions of the plurality of printimages each having print direction information into same printdirection, wherein said unifying includes totaling page counts on aprint-direction basis by use of the plurality of print images and takingthe print direction exhibiting a larger total page count to determinethe same print direction; and converting the print images that are notcoincident with the same print direction among the plurality of printimages into images having the same print direction; and a printer whichprints the print images that are coincident with the same printdirection and the post-converted images.
 14. The apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the plurality of print images are based on differenttype of image data.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:the different type of image data includes an image data with a formatnot supported by a Page Description Language and an image with a formatsupported by the Page Description Language, the image data with theformat supported by the Page Description Language is interpreted to theprint image, and the image data with the format not supported by thePage Description Language is converted to image data with the formatsupported by the Page Description Language and then interpreted to theprint image.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the imagedata with the format not supported by the Page Description Language isan image data obtained by a scanner.
 17. The apparatus according toclaim 15, wherein the image data with the format not supported by thePage Description Language is a FAX received image data.
 18. Theapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the controller furthercomprising unifying color resources-related settings of the plurality ofprint images.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein theconverting is performed by rotating the print images that are notcoincident with the same print direction.
 20. The apparatus according toclaim 19, wherein a rotation degree is 90 degrees.
 21. The apparatusaccording to claim 13, wherein: the plurality of print images arecompressed print images, and the sending includes expanding thecompressed print images in the hybrid job and sending expanded printimages to the printer.